ReuzeLeuven

On Saturday 24 May, the giants of Leuven once again paraded through the city centre. They invited their female colleagues from Belgium and abroad to join them. This fifth edition of ReuzeLeuven focused on the female giant, the christening of Leuven's youngest female giant Filipiniana, and the connection between people and cultures from all over the world through giants, dance, music and spectacle.

Leuven's giant culture is stronger than ever

​‘Since 2013, Leuven's giant culture has been revived thanks to the initiative of the Men of 73. They created the giantess Fiere Margriet and started the new ReuzeLeuven parade. In 2019, the non-profit organisation ReuzeLeuven took over the parade,’ explains Alderman for Culture Bert Cornillie. "Since then, thanks to the continued support of Erfgoedcel Leuven, the oldest giants of Leuven, such as Kobe Koeienschieter and Jan Van den Graetmolen, have been joined by six new giants: Rainbow Giant Iris, Chinese warrior Da Tong, Princess Nela, neighbour Jean Richard II, Queen Hedwig of Poland and now also giantess Filipiniana. Each giant embodies the power of connection and tells the story of the people of Leuven who brought them to life. After all, the giant culture symbolises solidarity and will soon also have a place in the story of LOV – Leuven as European Capital of Culture.

A parade full of girl power

The Leuven giants welcomed around twenty guest giants from Belgium, France and England, with a special focus on female giants. Together with brass bands, circus acts and dancers, they ensured a colourful and powerful ReuzeLeuven parade full of girl power.

Christening of Filipiniana: dance, tribute and solidarity

​Giant Filipiniana was born in 2023 as a tribute to Julieta Frisnedi, founder of the non-profit organisation Filipiniana Europa. With her motto “nothing is impossible here in Leuven and everywhere where love reigns”, Julieta brought people of Filipino and Belgian origin closer together. This connection lives on in Filipiniana: a child giantess, designed to be carried by one person and brought to life through dance. Her appearance is based on Julieta Frisnedi and her dress is inspired by traditional Filipino festive clothing.

"My mum always stood out – she didn't just walk along, she jumped out. That's what I want for Filipiniana: for her to stand out in the parade, just like my mother proudly carried her culture and dared to break new ground. Filipiniana was born dancing during the celebration of 25 years of Filipiniana Europe. She embodies everything my mother stood for: joy, love, creativity and connection," says Jennifer Regidor, Julieta's daughter and the inspiration behind the giantess.

During the christening ceremony, Filipiniana was assigned a giant godmother and godfather. This was followed by a big dance party that not only celebrates tradition, but also hope, diversity and togetherness.

View the photo reportage by Jente Waerzeggers below.